In September 2022, Canada and the Netherlands as co-chairs of the Media Freedom Coalition co-hosted a side-event during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, alongside the Freedom Online Coalition and International IDEA.  

Hosted at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York, the event focused on upholding democracy and human rights in the face of rising disinformation. It featured keynote speeches from H.E. Ms. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and H.E. Mr. Wopke Hoekstra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The expert panel included Can Yeginsu, deputy chair of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on media freedom; Kevin Casas Zamora, Secretary General of International IDEA and Teresa Hutson, Vice President, Technology and Corporate Responsibility and Microsoft.

The discussion looked at how digital technology has enabled the proliferation of disinformation; how some states have curtailed media freedom and freedom of expression under the guise of tackling disinformation; and how state-sponsored disinformation campaigns are undermining peace, prosperity, and individual freedoms. 

Click here to read the summary of the event.
Click here to watch the recording of the event.